Meet the spring 2026 graduating class
Meet the spring 2026 graduating class
Hundreds of Panthers are about to graduate! We are so excited for them to take the next step in their careers by starting full-time jobs or pursuing advanced degrees. Meet a few of these grads below and make sure you tell them “congrats!” if you see them in person!
Elsie Aslesen
Hometown: Howard, South Dakota
Program: Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Post-graduation plans?
Starting in August, I will be serving as a school-based therapist through Tanager Place at Benton Community Schools in Van Horne, Iowa. In this role, I'll provide mental health counseling services for middle school and high school students. I will also be an adjunct instructor in the gerontology department at UNI, teaching a class called Mental Health in Adulthood.
How did UNI prepare you for your post-graduation plans?
My confidence has tripled since beginning my studies at UNI. I had always struggled with anxiety around performance, especially when I had to do public speaking of any format. My professors threw me into public speaking opportunities right away, which was intimidating and scary at first, but eventually, I was able to work through the anxiety and uncover some new confidence in myself as an educator, so much so that I'll be teaching a course at UNI next year.
What did you enjoy most about attending UNI?
My highlight reel from UNI would include many moments from my time spent at the Dementia Simulation House. When I started as a graduate student at UNI, I expected to just keep my head in my studies and pay my dues until I graduated, but the team at the Dementia Simulation House has allowed me to thoroughly enjoy my time as a graduate student and has given me life-long friends that I will cherish long after I complete my master’s degree. My professors have provided (and sometimes pushed) me into opportunities that have helped me to significantly grow as a professional and, more importantly, as a person. I am graduating as a more confident, passionate, and open-minded individual largely because of my time at the Dementia Simulation House.
I have also loved my faculty in the counseling program. I don't think there are words to describe how grateful I am for the professors I've been blessed with. I don't think there are many graduate programs that treat their students with so much understanding and compassion. Throughout my time in the program, I knew that I could trust my faculty with any problems that came up along the way. It was reassuring to know that my professors saw me fully as a human rather than solely as a student.
Marguerite Fakler
Hometown: West Bend, Iowa
Majors: Comprehensive secondary science teaching and chemistry teaching
Minors: Biology teaching and earth science teaching
Post-graduation plans?
I will be a chemistry, physics and computer science teacher at Adel DeSoto Minburn High School (ADM) in Adel, Iowa.
What brought you to UNI?
The comprehensive secondary science teaching major brought me to UNI. Having an already-created plan to obtain a variety of science endorsements made the choice very easy when comparing the program to other universities that did not even have that major!
What excites you about your future teaching career?
I am excited about my Professional Learning Community at ADM. I had the opportunity to student teach there, and I can’t wait to work with them again! Being a first-year educator can be challenging, but I know I have a great support system waiting for me!
J.T. Garcia
Hometown: Johnston, Iowa
Post-graduation plans?
I will be a junior energy analyst in the Rotational Development Program at Tenaska in Omaha, Nebraska.
How have you been involved outside of the classroom?
Outside of the classroom, I have been involved through internships, research and the Economics Club. I completed two internships at larger companies in Des Moines (Athene and Wellmark), and I have also worked on Cancer Screen Iowa, a project focused on improving cancer screening awareness and early detection in the state. These experiences helped me connect the things I learned in class to hopefully impact the community in a meaningful way.
How would you sum up your UNI experience?
I am grateful for my time at UNI and for the people who helped shape my experience. UNI gave me the confidence, skills and relationships to take the next step after graduation, and I am excited to carry those lessons into my career.
Tim Horsfall
Hometown: Peosta, Iowa
Majors: Finance: Investments track
Minors: Economics and computer science
Post-graduation plans?
I will be completing my internship at Medical Associates in Dubuque as an accounting technician and will look for financial analyst jobs in South Dakota around September.
How did UNI prepare you for life after graduation?
One major way UNI prepared me for the future is through the business preparation courses. I took business 1000 and 2000 courses, which significantly bolstered my ability to talk to others, engage in awkward conversations at the workplace and, overall, learn and think as a business professional. One specific experience that helped me prepare for post-graduation plans was the resume building section in business 2000. This not only showed me what a good resume looks like but also what information to include on the resume to stand out to employers.
What advice would you give to incoming students?
I would recommend you to be open to talking to professors and going to their office hours. This is where connections are made and simply stopping in can not only help you in the classroom, but more importantly, with things outside of the classroom like research or job opportunities. I would also recommend joining clubs on campus that are tailored towards your major in business. These clubs often have employers coming in to speak with students, which is usually followed by networking, which is a great way to get your foot in the door at employers in your field.
Emijah Jones
Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Majors: Graphic design and Spanish
Post-graduation plans?
Nothing is fully set in stone yet! However, I would love to possibly move back abroad and live there for some time while pursuing the arts (fine arts & design)!
How did you become interested in your majors?
Graphic design and Spanish do not align nor overlap at all! For graphic design, I have always been a creative person and am primarily a painter. However, I didn’t want my passion for the fine arts to become my job or primary studies. That is why I decided to pursue graphic design. This allows me to help bring others’ passions and ideas to life!
As for Spanish, I began my Spanish learning journey during the pandemic. I decided to teach myself the language as a way to pass the time. Eventually, after graduating from high school, I decided to take my hobby to the classroom as a minor. Over time and with the amazing support of the Spanish department, I decided to change my Spanish minor to a Spanish major!
How have you been involved outside of the classroom?
In my four years, I have been a small business owner, a director of marketing for Black Student Union, a creative director/graphic designer for Prolific Magazine along with our very first fashion show (The Iconic Iowa Fashion Show), studied abroad in Spain as a Gilman Scholar, hosted my very own solo exhibition on campus, and more! So, I’ve been very active on campus as a student. I wish I could’ve done even more!
Malayna Kiel
Hometown: Oelwein, Iowa
Majors: Social work
Post-graduation plans?
I plan on coming back to UNI for my Master of Social Work. While completing my MSW here, I have accepted a graduate assistantship position with the Panther Pantry.
What excites you about your plans?
I have loved my time here at UNI and in the Cedar Falls area, and I wasn't ready to be done with school yet or UNI. I am excited to further my social work education here at UNI alongside some of the friends and classmates I made in the social work program.
What advice would you give to incoming students?
I was a transfer student, and what helped me the most was going to the professors’ office hours and asking all the questions, big or small. Talking in class was a great way for me to get out of my shell and meet other students within my major. I would also say to any incoming students, get involved and take advantage of all the resources that UNI provides both academically and socially.
June Sizemore
Hometown: Eldora, Iowa
Major: Elementary education with an endorsement in special education
Post-graduation plans?
After graduation, I plan to teach in Iowa, ideally in a juvenile detention center or another alternative setting. That’s where I feel like I can make the biggest difference.
What brought you to UNI?
I came to UNI because I finally decided to go all-in on becoming a teacher. I’m 41, so this wasn’t a straight path for me. I needed a program that was respected but also realistic for someone balancing work, family and real life. As an online student, UNI gave me that.
What did you enjoy most about attending UNI?
I’ve been to a few colleges before I found UNI, and I can honestly say this was different. Even though I was an online student, I never felt like I was “just” online, and I never felt like a number. The people in my cohort became real friends, and it’s amazing how everything came together for us. The professors who focused on real-life teaching — not just theory — made the biggest impact on me.
Chase Sternhagen
Hometown: Monticello, Iowa
Program: Master of Arts in Postsecondary Education: Student Affairs
Post-graduation plans?
I already started working as an academic advisor at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina.
How did you become interested in your program?
I chose PSE: Student Affairs after being part of the education program in undergrad, as well as being involved in undergrad. Taking part in the education program, I realized I really enjoyed working with students, and it was something that I wanted to continue doing after school, but with collegiate students instead of high school students. When I realized that student affairs was something that I could learn more about, I knew it was perfect for me.
What or who impacted you the most?
When in CAB, Josh Bulten was the advisor. He is the person who truly showed me to always be myself and that working in higher education was a possibility for me. Josh has had the most influence on my time at UNI. David Schmid, who is my professor/advisor for the grad program, has also impacted me. He has taught me so much about myself and about what it means to work in higher education, and I could not thank him and Josh for all they have done for me. I am extremely grateful.
